Central European wedding chest in polychrome pine with floral cartouches – Tyrol, circa 1890

Central European wedding chest made of pine wood, hand-painted with floral cartouches on the front and dated around 1890. A domestic nuptial piece that sits between a marriage arch and a linen chest, representative of Tyrolean and Bohemian folk art from the last quarter of the 19th century. In the alpine regions, the painted chest was part of the trousseau that the young bride brought to the marriage. It contained fabrics, embroidered clothing, and small personal items prepared over the years. The polychromy was never trivial: the central oval cartouches featuring tulips, roses, and bouquets refer to fertility and rebirth, motifs echoed by Central European folk painting throughout the 19th century. It is constructed from pine boards joined at the corners and reinforced with internal crosspieces. The flat lid opens on forged iron hinges and retains its original central lock. The front is organised with two oval cartouches on a white background with painted bouquets, a central rose-coloured iron plaque, and a lower panel adorned with a floral garland on a dark green background. The conical turned feet, angled outward, rest directly on the ground. Details. Dimensions: Width: 95 cm Depth: 55 cm Height: 63 cm. Style: Central European folk art, Tyrolean tradition. Materials and techniques: Pine wood; corner joint assembly; original tempera polychromy; original forged iron fittings. Place of origin: Central Europe (Tyrolean tradition) Period: Late 19th century. Date of manufacture: Around 1890. Condition / Observations: Good. Original patina and paintings. Wear consistent with age and use. This piece is part of the Amaru Antiques collection, Barcelona. UNIQUE PIECE.